Joint center report reveals record number of blacks holding public office

Jet, Feb 28, 1994

The political horizon looks a little brighter for Black elected officials, according to a recently released study that shows a record number of Blacks holding public offices.

The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies report, Black Elected Officials: A National Roster, 1993, shows that Blacks in elected office rose to an all-time high of 8,015 in 1992.

The dramatic increase of Black elected officials was attributed to redistricting at the local, state, and congressional levels following the 1990 census as well as enforcement of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Eddie N. Williams, president of the Joint Center, said the report documents the continuing gains of African Americans in the political arena and serves as a "unique resource for journalists, researchers, and political operatives."

Facts included in the study:

* The Congressional Black Caucus grew by more than 30 percent from 26 to 39 members. The U.S. Senate gained a Black woman--Carol Moseley-Braun--for the first time.

* In state senates, the number of elected Black officials grew by 17 percent, from 105 to 123.

* Black representation in elected judicial and law enforcement positions also rose considerably, from 847 to 923, an increase of 9 percent following a year (1991) in which there had been no increase.